Adjustable strap construction



March. 4, 1969 D. 5., COPEN 3,430,299

ADJUSTABLE STRAP CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 16, 1967 United States Patent Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A unitary length of strap having a first looped end retaining a pair of metallic rings, the opposite end thereof having a surface, two adjacent areas of which are provided with mutually selectively engageable and pile fabrics.

This invention relates generally to the field of flexible and adjustable straps. Briefly stated, the invention comprises the provision of a unitary length of strap having a first looped end retaining a pair of metallic rings, the opposite end of the unitary length having a surface, two adjacent areas of which are provided with mating or mutually selectively engageable hook and pile fabrics, the free end being engageable through openings in the metallic rings, following which the hook and pile elements are interconnected to obtain a first adjustment. In the alternative, the free end may be threaded between the rings in well known manner to obtain a smaller adjustment, and the hook and pile element subsequently mutually interconnected to serve the purpose of shortening the segment of the strap which is then free of tension.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable strap means which may be used in conjunction with an umbrella scabbard, so that the same may be conveniently installed upon automobile sun visors of varying widths.

Another invention of the object lies in the provision of an improved adjustable strap which may be of a minimum length necessary to accommodate all of the known widths of automobile sun visors, and in which provision is made to eliminate the presence of a dangling free end where smaller adjustments are made.

Yet another object of'the invention lies in the provision of an improved strap, possessed of the above advantage, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an adjustable strap construction which may be conveniently manipulated by those possessing only ordinary skill, and which may present an attractive appearance.

These objects and features, as well as other incidentals and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention, showing the same in installed condition upon a conventional automobile sun visor.

FIGURE 2 is a similar view in perspective, showing the side opposite that seen in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a similar view in perspective, showing the device installed upon an automobile sun visor of effective width substantially less than that of the visor illustrated in FIGURES l and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view in perspec- 3,430,299 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 "ice tive corresponding to the upper left hand portion of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view in perspective corresponding to the upper left hand portion of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical section view as seen from the plane 6-6 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view corresponding to that seen from the plane 7-7 in FIG- URE 4.

In accordance with the invention, the device generally indicated by reference character 10 includes an umbrella sca'bbard of conventional type, which is secured to an automobile visor 11 of relatively large width, or a similar visor 12 (FIGURE 3) of relatively smaller width by first and second strap elements 13 and 14.

The elements 13 and 14 are substantially similar, and, accordingly, a detailed description of one of said elements will serve equally well to describe the other. Each element 13 includes a single continuous length 15 of flexible material, such as leather, webbing, or suitable synthetic resinous material. A first end 16 is folded upon itself to form a loop 17, the terminal portion 18 being secured to the main portion thereof by a grommet or rivet 19.

The loop 17 engages a pair of metallic rings 20 and 21 of conventional type, and of similar size and configuration.

A medial segment 22 engages aligned flattened openings 23 in the scabbard 10, to be retained thereby. A free end portion 24 includes a first segment 25, one surface of which is covered by a pile fabric 26, and a second adjacent segment 27 of which is covered by a hooked fabric 28, both fabrics being of a type providing for mutual engagement under light pressure, examples of such fabrics being commercially available in this country at the present time under the trademark Velcro. The first segment 25 is preferably terminated a short distance from the tip 29 of the free end to permit manual engagement thereof and to thereby facilitate disengagement when no longer required.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 5 in the drawing, where an installation is made on an automobile visor of relatively larger width, substantially all of the entire length of the strap will be placed in tension, and engagement of the ends thereof is accomplished as shown in FIGURE 5, wherein the tip 29 is threaded through both rings 20-21, and the pile fabric 26 is placed in contact with the hook fabric 28 in well known manner. The result is a neat appearing interconnection in which there is no dangling free end present. It will be observed that it is not necessary for the entire lengths of the fabrics, which are substantially of equal dimensions, to be engaged, it being sufiicient that at least a substantial degree of purchase by one of the fabrics upon the other is accomplished.

By contrast, when the device is installed upon an automobile visor of relatively lesser width, there will be, correspondingly, greater length of the strap which is not placed in tension, necessitating a different type of engagement. As seen in FIGURE 4, the free end of the strap is threaded through the rings 20 and 21 and then between them, following which the strap is tightened. This engagement will leave a substantial segment 39 free of tension, and the effective length of this segment is shortened by then engaging the pile fabric 26 and hook fabric 28 to form a strip of material which is of at least double thickness, and of correspondingly increased rigidity. As best seen in FIGURE 7, the unstressed portion of the strap is thus shortened to an effective length where it Will lie snugly alongside the visor, and present an attractive appearance.

Where, as for example in other applications, a greater range of adjustment is required, this can be accommodated for by increasing the length of areas which are covered by the hook and pile fabrics, so that in each case the unstressed portion of the strap may be stiffened as shown in FIGURE 7. While I have chosen to illustrate the invention in conjunction with the maintenance of an umbrella scabbard upon an automobile sun visor, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention contemplates application in any location Where a similar result is desired.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of construction shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. Improved adjustable strap construction comprising a unitary length of material having a first free end and a second end folded upon and secured to itself to form a loop, a pair of relatively non-flexible strap retaining loops in engaged relation within said first mentioned loop, said first free end having first and second opposed surfaces, and selectively interconnectable loop and pile fabric members mounted upon adjacent areas on one surface thereof; whereby said first and second ends of said strap construction may be selectively interconnected in at least two positions thereof to define an article enclosing loop, in a first position of which said free end is passed through both said strap retaining loops in non-retaining relation and maintained in such position by the subsequent engagement of said loop and pile fabric members to define an article enclosing loop of given girth, and in a second position thereof said free end is passed through both said strap retaining loops and around only one of said strap retaining loops to define an article retaining loop of girth than said given girth, and in which said free end is free of other interconnection and is folded upon itself to interconnect said loop and pile fabric members to shorten the effective length thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,798,576 3/1931 Alonso 24197 2,756,172 7/1956 Kidd.

3,063,718 11/1962 Steinkamp 273-55 3,196,511 7/1965 Kintner 24204 3,205,544 9/1965 Streule 24203 X 3,241,881 3/1966 Carnahan 24204 X 3,279,008 10/1966 Wallach 24204 X 3,307,872 3/ 1967 Murcott.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

